UK mulls over sending cutting-edge DragonFire laser to Ukraine for drone defense

Shapps expressed a desire to fast-track the deployment of these high-tech weapons aboard naval vessels and on land, aiming to shorten the timeline significantly compared to current projections. The UK's defense strategy includes integrating DragonFire into its military arsenal by 2027, but efforts are underway to determine if earlier deployment to Ukraine is feasible, even with prototypes that may not be fully finalized.

"I'm absolutely sure that what we have here is very special, and a level that other countries are unlikely to be able to replicate because it's so advanced," Shapps said. "The product itself is really innovative." 

Inside DragonFire

DragonFire, a laser weapon capable of neutralizing drones and missiles, operates invisibly and silently. Its light wavelength, roughly one micron, eludes human vision and aligns closely with the infrared light spectrum.

With the ability to travel at light speed and an undisclosed range, DragonFire can instantaneously heat a metal surface to 3000C (5400F), creating plasma and penetrating aircraft fuselages and weapon casings within seconds.

The weapon's development was influenced by recent conflicts in Israel and Ukraine, highlighting drones as a pivotal element of contemporary warfare. The UK Ministry of Defense notes DragonFire's capacity to intercept objects surpassing the speed of ballistic missiles.

A standout feature of laser weaponry is cost-efficiency, with each discharge estimated at merely $12. The British Navy is slated to be the initial recipient of the DragonFire system, followed by ground-based deployments.